Florida man sentenced for smuggling lizards from Philippines

 A Florida man has been sentenced to 90 days of home detention and 288 hours of community service for his part in a trafficking scheme in which live water monitor lizards were stuffed into socks and concealed inside electronics to be smuggled from Philippines to United States.

Akbar Akram, 44, was sentenced earlier this month in Tampa federal court. He pleed guilty in January to one count of wildlife trafficking in violation of Lacey Act and Convention on International Tre in Endangered Species Treaty, court records show.

Akram mitted to illegally importing more than 20 live water monitor lizards from Philippines in 2016, a U.S. Justice Department statement said. He avoided customs authorities by placing lizards in socks, which were sealed closed with tape and concealed inside electronic equipment and shipped under a false label. equipment was transported through commercial carriers to Akram’s associate in Massachusetts.

As part of his plea, Akram mitted that he knew monitor lizards he received h been taken in violation of Philippine law and that import violated U.S. law, according to statement. Akram also mitted that upon receiving monitor lizards, he sold some of m to customers in Coloro, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Approximately 70 monitor lizard species are characterized by elongated necks, heavy bodies, long-forked tongues, strong claws and long tails. Water monitor lizards are native to South and Souastern Asia. yellow-heed water monitor, white-heed water monitor and marbled water monitor are found in Philippines.